Jans Earns First o­n Spirit Tour

by J.A. Barnes
 
There was no shortage of talent or fun at the Ladies Spirit Tour stop at Kiss Shot Billiards in Coral Springs, FL, o­n March 19-20 for the third WPBA qualifier of the year.  Wendy Jans, who hails from Belguim, not o­nly took home the win but also earned the qualifier, which is sponsored by LTLUniverse.com.

Besides Jans, Jeannie Seaver, Tracie Hines, and Debbie Schjodt also competed in the weekend event.  All four players were crowding the winners' bracket, but o­nly o­ne was going to make it through. 

Jans and Seaver met late o­n the second day to determine who would move o­n to play in Sunday's hot seat match.  Jans led most of the match, but a late rally by Seaver earned her a 7-6 win, sending Jans to duel it out with Bonnie Coats in the quarterfinals.

Seaver and Hines, who are no strangers to o­ne another in competition, met in the hot seat match.  An early charge by Hines sparked a quick 4-1 lead, and a couple unforced errors by Seaver helped Hines secure the 7-3 victory.

The quarterfinal match between Coats and Jans was just as much a championship, since the winner would earn the WPBA qualifier, o­nly because Hines and Seaver are already o­n the tour.  From the first game o­n, Jans had control, racing to a 7-0 shutout to advance to the semifinals to face Seaver.  In the rematch, Jans seemed to have Seaver's number, winning easily 7-2 to earn a trip to the finals to face Hines, who is a Spirit Tour veteran.   

The fact that Hines had been there before didn't bother Jans, but she did have to earn two match wins to capture the title.  The first set was knotted up at 4 apiece before a miss by Hines in the ninth rack, which propelled Jans to a 7-5 win.  In the second set, Jans kept the momentum, running out to a commanding lead that she never relinquished, capturing her first Spirit Tour title 7-2.  Jans, though, has been o­n fire this year, making this her third qualifier she has won.

Results:

1st Wendy Jans $750 + WPBA qualifier
2nd Tracie Hines $525
3rd Jeannie Seaver $375
4th Bonnie Coats $250
5th Julia Gabriel, Crystal McCormick $175
7th Debbie Schjodt, Helene Caukin $100
9th Emily Wilmoth, Stephanie Mitchell, Lisa Hamilton, Sue Bedore $50

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